Shadow Play

Chapter 2: First Day



Harry yawned as he walked down to breakfast the next morning. Sleeping at Hogwarts as a teacher didn’t feel any different then sleeping at Hogwarts as a student, except he had a room all to himself and the room was bigger. As he slept he dreamt about when he was a student and that made him smile. After pulling his shoulder length black hair into a ponytail at the base of his neck he walked into the Great Hall.



“You’re late, Black,” said Draco who was almost finished with his breakfast of pancakes and sausages.



“I did ask you to call me James, Draco,” said Harry with a flirtatious smile, taking up his “James Black” persona.



“Why were you late?”



“I overslept.” Harry started piling food on his plate and started eating. Draco watched him from the corner of his eye. James Black was neat eater, but not exactly voracious. He ate with the measure of someone in hurry and trying to be polite at the same time. Harry swallowed before continuing to speak. “I’m not used to early work schedules. But I’ll get the hang of it soon.”



The truth was, last night Harry had spent it walking the halls of Hogwarts, remembering old routes and secret rooms. Using one route he found himself in front of the Fat Lady guarding Gryffindor House. He knew Teddy was in Gryffindor and wished that he could see his godson. Harry missed Teddy even through he visited on the boy’s birthday. Teddy was looking more like his parents each year.



“If you’d like, I can wake you up each morning,” said Draco with a smirk. Harry could see an amused look on Hermione’s face at the joke.



“Why Mr. Malfoy, are you suggesting we become roommates?” asked Harry. Draco’s face flushed in embarrassment and looked away.



“No,” said Draco. “I’m only suggesting I wake you up each morning.”



“I suppose that can work, till I get an alarm clock of course.”



“Of course.” And Draco got up and walked from the Great Hall. Harry lazily watched the blonde leave as Hermione turned to him.



“Flirting,” she whispered in his ear.



“I’m just keeping him distracted.”



“By erotic imagery?”



Harry looked at her in mock surprise. “Why Hermione, if Ron were here….”



“But Ron isn’t and if he was he’d get a laugh at the look on Malfoy’s face!”



Harry chuckled. “You’re right. Ron would be talking about that for weeks. And besides, it’s too early for shameless flirting.”



Hermione laughed. “I think you’re a bit too into the role,” she said. “But I’m not complaining. James Black is a lot better then your other personas. He’s more laid bad, funny, easy to get along with, if a bit tardy all the time, and a lot like you, but yet not.”



“Don’t forget a very handsome guy,” said Harry and Hermione giggled.



“Okay, Romeo, get to class,” she said and stood up. “I have to get to mine. Better get going or you’ll be late.”



“I’ll be there,” said Harry taking another helping of pancakes. Hermione shook her head and left, leaving Harry the only person in the Great Hall.



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Ten minutes after class started, Harry walked into his class room to find a very rambunctious group of second years. Harry had known he was late; he planned on it, but not by much. Taking out his wand he sent a shower of sparks in the air to settle the students down.



“Settled down,” he ordered and they quieted. “Take a seat. Don’t need books or wands today.” Pointing his wand at the blackboard three pieces of chalk rose and began to write on it. “This is Defense Against the Dark Arts and I’m Professor James Black.”



The chalk wrote his alias and the class as he walked to the front of the room and sat on his desk.



“But you can call me Professor James. I’m not like the rest of the teachers here. I’m not as forward, but just as strict. Through I may not be on time I expect all of you to be.” He picked up a file of papers. “On these papers I want you to write a little about yourselves. It’s kind of like a get to know you sheet. Your name, birthday, your parents names, you blood status, Muggle-born, half blood or pure-blood, anything you like or dislike. As soon as you finished you will pass them back up to me.



“Okay, let’s see here…You and you.” He pointed to a Gryffindor boy and a Slytherin boy. They hesitated for a second. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite. I just want you to pass out the papers.” The two boys walked up and he looked at them. “What are your names?”



“Reginald Green,” said the Gryffindor.



“Augustus Redwood,” said the Slytherin.



“Any nicknames?” asked Harry.



Augustus shook his head as Reginald said “Reggie.”



“Well, Augustus, Reggie, I’d like for you to hand out these papers. Don’t worry, you’re not being graded on these,” He handed half to Reggie and half to Augustus. “Okay, Reggie, you take the Slytherins and Ravenclaws. Augustus, you take the Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs.”



Both boys’ eyes widened.



“You have got to be kidding,” said Augustus in an arrogant sophisticated tone that suggested he was well in wealth.



“No, I am not,” said Harry sternly. “I don’t do favoritism, but I also don’t like being talked back to over insignificant things. You will pass these out, or should I have Mr. Harrison do it and Slytherin loses ten points?”



Augustus scowled at Harry, but took the papers and began tossing them to the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, slapping the papers down with a sharp smack. Reggie passed out the papers quickly but silent.



“While they are passing those out can any of you tell me what we’re going to be doing in this class, besides the obvious defense against Dark spells?”



A girl from Ravenclaw raised her hand and Harry pointed to her. “Yes, Ms…..”



“Amanda Stevenson, sir. And we learn how to defend against Dark Magic. We are also to learn how to use curses to defend ourselves in cause we’re attacked.”



“Very good, Ms. Stevenson. You’re here to learn how to protect not only yourself but also those around you. It’s not to show you’re the better man, or woman, or to terrorize those you don’t like. The only reason for anyone to fight is to protect someone or someones important to you. Never forget that.



“Any questions on the work sheet?”



“Why do you want our blood status?” asked Wolfgang Harrison, another Slytherin. Harry shrugged.



“I’m naturally curious. When you’re done you can talk among yourselves. If you have a question about me all you have to do is ask.”



“Where’s you’re family?” asked a Ravenclaw.



“I’m an orphan. I grew up with relatives for over sixteen years before I moved out.”



“Are you married,” asked a Gryffindor girl a slight blush on her cheeks.



“No, and I’m old enough your father, young lady.” The whole class laughed as the girl’s blush deepened and Harry chuckled. “But a good thought. Keep it up, but make them more educational for your mind, not your fancies.”



“Where do you live,” asked a Hufflepuff. “When you’re not sleeping at the school that is.”



Harry shrugged. “Here and there,” he said and smiled at them and the questions continued. Harry answered them truthfully yet evasively, keeping his real life from prying minds.



xxxxxxxxxxx



Draco walked into the room for his last class, this one full of first years. Some of them were talking about the new teacher from their last class.



“He says he’s a fair Seeker,” said one Gryffindor boy. “Maybe we can challenge him to a game.”



“First years never play Quidditch,” answer Gryffindor girl.



“Harry Potter did.”



“He’s not even married,” said a Hufflepuff girl. “I wonder if he has a girlfriend.”



“He wouldn’t take a second glance at you,” answered another girl. “You’re too young.”



“I can wait.”



“He seems to know what he’s talking about,” said a Ravenclaw girl. “I mean, if unsophisticated.”



“You don’t know a lot about Defense Against the Dark Arts either,” said a boy. “Only what you’ve read in books.”



“My parents are Aurors.”



Draco effectively shut the door, loudly, making every student there jump in their seats and look at him in surprise.



“Put away your wands and shut your mouths,” he said walking briskly to the front of the room. “Both are not needed here.”



He stood at the front of the class, remembering Snape standing there each year, with the same air and attitude that Draco adopted. “I can see there’s some talk about our new teacher. Talking is reserved for after class, not during. Open your books to page 115 and start writing notes on the potion indicated there.”



“We have to do work on the first day?!” said a boy with sandy hair, highlighted a mousy brown, with amber eyes. By the color of his robes Draco saw that he was a Gryffindor. He looked up the student’s name.



“Theodore Lupin?” Draco looked up at the boy in surprise, but his it carefully. “Remus Lupin’s son?”



Teddy’s eyes widen in anticipation at his father’s name. “You know my dad?”



“Obviously.” Draco turned to the rest of the class. “Page 115, now!”



The students hurried to obey. Draco turned to write on the chalkboard but spared a glance at Teddy. He barely remembered his mother’s other sister. Narcissa had tried to make up with Andromeda when Draco was younger. Nymphadora had been older then, but all Draco remembered of her younger self was a smiling ten year old girl. He had never met Teddy till today. He knew the boy was a Metamorphmagus but chose to keep the original features of both his parents. The young boy’s loyalty to the deceased knew no bounds.



Picking up a paper Draco started grading as the class took notes.



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Later that day, Harry was looking over the questionnaires the students worked on. So far they were normal students. They seemed to be good kids, some a little rough around the edges, but experience with smooth that out.



Placing another on the first year pile, he froze when he read the name on the sheet.



Name: Lupin, Theodore

Middle Name: Remus

Age: 11

Birthday: March 11, 1997

Parents or Guardian: Remus James Lupin and Nymphadora Andromeda Tonks

Hobbies: Quidditch, hippogriff racing wizard chess and reading

Ambition: To be a great wizard like my parents.



Harry put the sheet down before he could read any more and quickly wiped the tears from his eyes. He knew that Teddy idolized his parents more then the Savior of the Wizarding World, but it actually see it on the page made it more real, and reminded Harry how alike he and his godson was.



“Harry?” called a voice and Harry didn’t have to look up to know that it was Hermione, but he did anyway. She was standing in front of his desk wearing a black robe and under it was a soft blue blouse and a skirt that came to her knees. She wore skin colored hoses and black inch heels. She portrayed the look of a Muggle business woman while Harry’s was more street thug.



“Harry, are you all right?” she asked noticing the look on his face. Harry nodded.



“Yeah, I’m all right,” he said setting the sheet aside. Hermione reached over and picked it up before Harry could stop her.



“Teddy,” she said when she read the sheet.



“He’s an ambitious kid,” said Harry. “A lot like Remus was.” He blinked his eyes several time before his vision blurred. “Damn!”



“Potion wore off?”



“Yeah.” Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out an eye dropper but with bluish white liquid in it. Taking the top off, he put two drops in each eye and blinked a few times till his vision cleared.



“Two hours,” said Hermione. “Potion only lasts for two hours.”



“I’m just glad I can see without those damn glasses,” said Harry. He stacked the papers, put them in a file and placed the file in a drawer. “Let’s go eat.”



“And flirt shamelessly with a certain blonde Potions Master,” said Hermione as she walked out the door.



“Hermione!” called Harry running after her.



“Oh, come on, I can see it. You’re infatuated with him.”



“I am not! He made my life a living hell!”



Hermione started laughing as they headed to the Great Hall. Harry’s face became a deep red. They were intercepted by Neville when they entered the Great Hall.



“Hey, Hermione,” said Neville smiling at her. Hermione smiled back.



“Hi, Neville how’s Hannah?”



“She’s all right. She is still trying to decide if she should use Georges new flavor drink.”



“She should. It’s really good.”



Neville nodded and turned to Harry. “You’re James Black, Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.”



“And you’re Neville Longbottom, Herbology teacher,” said Harry taking Neville’s offered hand.



“So how was your first day?” asked Neville as they walked toward the table.



“It was all right,” said Harry. “The kids were a bit rambunctious, but they are kids.”



“They can be like that,” said Neville with a smile.



Harry noticed that Neville had changed since their school days in Hogwarts. He wasn’t nervous or clumsy as he was as a student and was more daring. Being the leader of Dumbledore’s Army for a year had changed him.



Harry was welcomed by Hagrid as they attempted to sit down and Harry enthusiastically talked with him. On the other side of the table Pansy and Draco watched Harry walk in.



“He’s cute, isn’t he,” said Pansy.



“You’re married, Pansy,” said Draco sipping his pumpkin juice. “And he’s a half-blood.”



“How do you know that?” asked Pansy looking at Draco in surprise.



“He told me.”



“We really need to get you a date. How long as it been since you’ve gotten laid?”



Draco’s eyes flashed. “Drop it Pansy.”



Pansy just smiled. “Blaise was right. You have been a bitch since you two broke up.”



“And then you married him,” said Draco with a tight smile. “Ironic isn’t it? I date you, you date Blaise, and then I date Blaise, then you and Blaise date again and get married. The great circle of life.”



“Or more accurately, the Great Love Story of Draco Malfoy.”



“Very funny, Pansy.”



She nodded toward the dark haired Defense teacher. “You could date him,” she said.



Draco’s eyes narrowed. “Now I know you are joking.”



“Why not? He’s just your type. Dark hair, tan skin, bright eyes and gorgeously handsome.”



“I say again, he’s a half-blood.”



“That’s never stopped you before, Draco. What’s your problem with him?”



“He reminds me of someone.”



“Who?”



Draco opened his mouth to answer but a voice cut him off.



“How was your day, Draco?” asked Harry sitting lazily next to him.



“Dismal, as always,” said Draco eating a bite of his food as Harry chuckled.



“You sound like an old teacher of mine. Never found any fun in anything, except tormenting a certain student he didn’t care to have.”



“You,” asked Draco with a smirk. Harry smiled.



“Me,” he said with a laugh.



“Why aren’t you sitting with Granger, Black?”



“Are you always this serious?” asked Harry. “Don’t you just sit back and relax?”



“Why should I when life isn’t easy?”



Harry looked over at Draco thoughtfully. This one was different from the boy he knew in Hogwarts. He was more recluse and always came to the point. A lot like Snape. Harry had heard that Snape had taken Draco in as his assistant before he died, but Harry didn’t know why. Snape had never taken on an assistant before and being the Headmaster of a school hardly required having a student assistant. Maybe the man had changed him. Whether it was a good thing or a bad thing he was going to find out.



“I know life isn’t easy, but I’ve learned to take it one step at a time.”



“I suppose you would,” said Draco.



“The Muggles have a saying, if life gives you lemons make lemonade.”



“And what does that mean,” asked Draco looking over at Harry in annoyance but Harry shrugged it off. He gave Draco a smile Sirius would be proud of and took a bite of his dinner.



“James,” said Pansy and Harry looked over Draco to give her his attention. “Are you related to Orion Black? They’re a very prestigious family.”



“I don’t know. I never knew my parents. They were British through.”



“What happened to them?”



Before Harry could answer there was a cough from Hermione next to him, but Harry didn’t need the signal to know he was treading on dangerous grounds. Pansy was curious about him. She wasn’t the first and she won’t be the last.



“They were murdered when I was a baby. Let’s just leave it at that.” And he returned to his dinner. Ten minutes later Harry and Hermione walked out of the Great Hall and headed toward the Professor’s Lounge.



“What was that?!” asked Hermione. “You asked me to keep it secret and you all just blurt it all out?!”



“I knew where she was going. I don’t need a baby sitter anymore.”



“Harry, you want to keep people from finding you, but how you’re doing it is ridiculous.”



Harry stopped and turned to look at his child-hood friend. From all of his friends only Ron, Hermione and Ginny understood why Harry had left the Magical Community and traveled the world, only visiting once or twice a year.



“Hermione, I know what I’m doing. I didn’t spend five years in hiding for nothing. Besides I can’t help being a little laid back. For the first time in my life, I can express myself. I’m free to be me.”



“Only everyone knows you as James Black. Even Neville and Hagrid, two of your closest friends that you’ve known for almost two decades! Is that really fair?”



Harry shifted and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. “Yeah, you’re right, it isn’t fair. I do feel bad about lying to them, but the less people know about me the less chance there is that I’m surrounded by reporters and photographers and tabloid writers that’ll twist everything I say and do.”



Hermione crossed her arms. “You really don’t like reporters, do you?” she asked and Harry smiled.



“Can you blame me?’ he said and they both laughed. They started walking back toward the Professor’s Lounge.



“What’s with the mixed clothes?” asked Hermione pointing to Harry’s casual shirt, jeans and robes.



“I thought it would help the students relax around me, knowing that I’m as human as they are. Besides, formal clothes make me itch.”



Hermione had a thought at that, tapping a finger on her chin. “I suppose you’re right,” she said. “I may have to try it.”



“You should,” said Harry. They entered the Professor’s Lounge where they saw Katie sleeping on the couch, her slightly swollen stomach stretched under her robes. “I wondered where she was.”



“She’s sleeping more often now,” said Hermione. “And with Quidditch season going Oliver can’t stop to visit.”



“And Magical Drama class keeps her from working all day. Who’d have thought wizards and witches would be interested music and acting.”



“This coming from the guy who spent a year on Broadway,” said Hermione.



Harry smirked at his friend. A year after the end of the war, Katie had petitioned for a drama class that worked on not only magical aspects but also as a way for the students to vent their frustration. There was only one class a week but surprisingly the students loved the class and now held musicals once a year.



Hermione reached over and shook Katie awake. Katie woke with a jerk and stared sleepily at the two teachers.



“Oh, Hermione, how long was I out?” she asked.



“Almost an hour,” said Hermione. Katie groaned as both helped her sit up.



“I only closed my eyes for a moment,” she said. “Oh, hello, James.”



“Hi, Katie,” said Harry. “How are you feeling?”



“Dismal. Seven months pregnant is nothing to be proud of, no matter what anyone says.”



Hermione smirked. “I know how you feel. I was the same when I was pregnant with Rose. How about you get something to eat and get some sleep, Katie. It’ll make you feel better.”



“Sounds like a plan. Can you help me up please?”



Both Harry and Hermione gently took Katie’s arms and helped her off the sofa. When she was upright she sighed and held herself steadily against Harry.



“James, you don’t know how lucky you are to be a guy,” she said and Harry laughed.



“I bet you don’t say that to your husband,” he said and Katie scoffed.



“No, I yell and curse him for doing this to me, then I kiss him for giving me a miracle,” she said. “Hormones.”



And with that Katie walked out to head for the kitchens. Harry and Hermione sat on the couch and ordered a pot of tea from a house-elf.



“Being pregnant is a double edge sword,” said Hermione. “Both a blessing and a curse.”



Harry chuckled. “I remember. You used to order food from Ron that he had to come to me for. Cheeseburgers, French fries, milkshakes, barbeque wings…”



“Hey, he liked them too!”



“But the ice cream with chocolate syrup, spinach and pickles?”



Hermione’s face flushed and she laughed. “Okay, you got me there.” She looked over at Harry. “When are you going to settled down, Harry? Have your own kids?”



Harry gave her an amused look. “In case you haven’t noticed, Hermione. I can’t have kids.”



“I told you I would help, and Ron has no problem with it. And neither does Ginny.”



“I know, but I figured I’d never have kids, but now….”



Hermione smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. “You will. Someday, you will.”



TBC